Marvel's Spider-Man Exclusivity Offer Was Rejected by Xbox

Ever since early 2000, Marvel Comics' iconic web-slinging superhero Spider-Man was basically a multi-platform IP under publisher Activision, launching a new game almost every year and thus, eventually declining in quality and sales number.

Before becoming one of the best-selling superhero video game, license for Marvel's Spider-Man was offered to Xbox to make a console-exclusive game before they turned down, according to a quote by head of Marvel Games in a 2021 book.

A citation of Marvel Games executive vice president Jay Ong from The Ultimate History of Video Games Vol. 2 by author Steven L. Kent was shared across ResetEra forums lately, revealing how Spider-Man IP found a new home at PlayStation.

Seeing one of their popular IPs being mishandled by Activision for years, Marvel Games wanted to cut ties and look for better partnership. They mutually agreed to end their deal early in 2014 after a terrible launch of Amazing Spider-Man 2.

Activision asked before walking away, that what they are going to do with this IP after getting it back? Ong simply replied "I'm going to find a better home for it", to which Activision higher-ups reacted saying "Good luck finding your unicorn".

Marvel Games then talked to both PlayStation and Xbox to see if they will be interested to have an exclusive partnership. Microsoft reportedly wanted to focus on their own IP and passed it on but Sony liked this idea and they had a meeting.

Ong had high hopes that a PlayStation-exclusive Spider-Man could beat Batman: Arkham series and Sony offered to a make AAA game. They handed it over to developer Insomniac Games, an independent studio in 2014 before their buyout.

Marvel's Spider-Man ended up selling over 20 million copies worldwide since release, followed by Miles Morales spin-off game. Insomniac is working on Marvel's Spider-Man 2 and announced PlayStation 5-exclusive Marvel's Wolverine title.